11

Jessica Lewis

I woke to the sound of the wind howling outside, the moonlight casting a silver glow through the curtains. Blinking against the dim light, I felt the heaviness of my emotions pressing down on me. My body ached, both from my injuries and the sheer exhaustion of the past few days.

Turning onto my side, I expected solitude, but a shadow moved in the corner of the room. My breath caught in my throat, my body tensing until my eyes adjusted and I recognized the familiar form leaning against the wall.

"Tristan?" I whispered, my voice hoarse.

He stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "I didn't mean to wake you."

Slowly, I sat up, my fingers gripping the blanket. "Why are you still here? I thought you left."

He hesitated before answering, his jaw tight. "I couldn't. Not completely. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

A lump formed in my throat. The intensity in his gaze was nearly too much to bear. I swallowed hard, searching for the right words, but all I found was the same confusion that had been plaguing me. "I told you I needed space."

"I know." His voice was rough, tinged with something I couldn't quite place. "And I gave it to you. But that doesn't mean I stop caring."

I looked away, staring at the moonlit patterns on the floor. "I don't know how to do this, Tristan. I don't know how to be a part of this world."

He took another step closer. "You don't have to figure it out alone. You have me. You have the pack."

A soft, bitter laugh escaped me. "That's just it, isn't it? You say I have you, but it feels like I don't. It feels like I'm trapped in something I don't understand, and I don't know how to escape it."

Tristan's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with something raw and primal. "You don't need to escape. You need to trust me."

My chest tightened. Trust. It sounded so simple when he said it, but it felt like the hardest thing in the world. "And what if I can't?"

Tristan inhaled sharply, as if my words physically wounded him. He took another step toward me, his hands clenched at his sides. "Then I'll wait. No matter how long it takes."

I met his gaze, feeling the storm of emotions between us. A part of me ached to close the distance, to surrender to the bond that pulled us together. But another part—one that had been broken and bruised too many times—held me back.

I bit my lip and turned away, my voice barely above a whisper. "Goodnight, Tristan."

A heavy silence followed. Then, after a long moment, I heard his quiet footsteps retreat. The door opened and closed softly, leaving me alone once more.

I exhaled shakily, hugging my knees to my chest. I had asked for space, but as I sat in the empty room, I couldn't help but wonder if I had pushed him too far away.

Outside, the wind howled louder, as if echoing the turmoil within my heart.

---

The next morning, I awoke with a dull ache in my chest. Sleep had not come easily, and even as I sat up in bed, the events of the previous night weighed heavily on me. The room was eerily quiet, save for the soft rustling of the trees outside.

I took a deep breath and forced myself out of bed, my muscles protesting with every step. I needed to clear my head. Maybe some fresh air would help me process everything.

Slipping on a warm sweater, I stepped outside onto the balcony. The cool morning breeze sent a shiver through me, but I welcomed it. The sky was painted in soft hues of pink and gold, the early sun just beginning to rise over the horizon.

I closed my eyes, letting the fresh air fill my lungs. For the first time in a long time, I felt a fleeting moment of peace. But it didn't last.

A presence behind me made my pulse quicken. I turned to find Tristan standing in the doorway, his expression cautious yet determined.

"I know you needed space," he said softly. "But I couldn't leave without saying this."

My heart pounded as I braced myself for whatever he was about to say.

"Jessica, I don't want you to feel like you're drowning in my world. If you need time, I'll give it to you. But don't shut me out completely. We're in this together."

I searched his eyes, seeing the sincerity in them. A war raged within me—part of me wanted to retreat into my own uncertainty, but another part wanted to believe him, to trust that he meant every word.

Finally, I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "Okay."

A small, relieved smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Okay."

For the first time in days, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I wasn't as lost as I thought.